What Causes Women To Bleed After Intercourse?

On an average up to 63% women during their peri-menopause and post-menopausal phase experience bleeding after sex due to vaginal dryness. And more over 9% of menstruating women may also experience vaginal bleeding after sex.

If you are spotting after sex occasionally then it is not a matter of concern. However in some cases, it can be alarming. Medically, bleeding after an intercourse is called as post-coital bleeding which can happen due to a variety of reasons.

In this article, let’s see the possible risk factors of vaginal bleeding after sex…

1. Traumatic Bleeding

Though the name sounds horrifying, this type of bleeding is very common and the least life-threating among the other possible causes. Due to rough sex, the mucus lining or cervix can get ruptured leading a small amount of bleeding.

2. Infections

Infections are one of the common reasons for vaginal bleeding especially after a sexual intercourse. Some of the infections include: pelvic inflammatory disease, cervicitis, sexually transmitted diseases (chlamydia, yeast infection), and vaginitis. These infections cause inflammation and bleeding of certain tissues in the vagina.

3. Vaginal Dryness

Vaginal dryness is the most common reason for spotting after sex. Due to less or no secretion of mucus, the vagina stays dry. So, during sex, the friction can lead to rupture in the tissues or blood vessels leading to bleeding. Usually, this occurs in women going through peri-menopause or post menopause. But apart from that, there are several reasons that lead to vaginal dryness which include:

Sjogren’s syndrome (inflammatory diseases which decreases moisture production by glands)

4. Cervical Polyps

Polyps are non-cancerous growth that are usually formed on endometrium lining or cervix. The movement of polyp can lead to the irritation of surrounding tissue leading to some blood leakage. Spotting between the period or after sex are common symptoms of this disease. Though this condition is not life threatening, they need continuous medical supervision or surgical treatment as they can slowly develop infertility.

5. Cervical Cancer or Pre-cancerous lesion

Abnormal spotting or bleeding, between periods or after sex is also a symptom of cervical cancer. Almost in 11% of women, this was the first symptom when diagnosed with cervical cancer. So, if you are experiencing abnormal spotting after periods then consult a gynecologist.

6. Cervical Ectropion

Cervical ectropion or eversion is a common physiological change which leads to the inflammation of the cervix surface. This inflammation can lead to blood leakage between the periods or after sex.

7. First Sexual Intercourse

If you have sex for the first time then vaginal bleeding after sex is pretty common unless it is too heavy. When you are having sex for the first time the hymen present in the vagina breaks down (which usually means loss of virginity) causing a little spotting after sex.

8. Pregnancy

If you are pregnant then a deep penetration or friction during sex can irritate the cervix leading to a small blood leakage.

9. Cervical Erosion

In some cases, the cell growth happens outside of the cervix instead of the inner walls. This condition is called cervical erosion which can leave the place eroded, infected and inflamed. This can lead to light pink discharge after sex.

10. Birth Control Devices or Pills

Usually, most of the intrauterine devices or pills don’t cause any bleeding. However in some cases like…

If it has just been 2 – 3 months of placing a uterine device and your body is still trying to adjust to the new change in the body. This situation can lead to light pink or light brown discharge.

If the uterine device is placed wrongly.

If there is an infection around the uterine device.

It can be a side effect of birth control pill. In this case, the vaginal bleeding can be accompanied by nausea, breast tenderness, mood swings, decreased libido, intermenstrual spotting and headaches.

When to seek a medical help?

It is always better to get a medical help by a certified gynecologist if you are experiencing any abnormal changes like bleeding or spotting after sex. It helps to avoid possible fatal consequences. Below are the symptoms you have to pay attention to…

Abnormal color, texture of the discharge.

Pelvic or abdominal pain accompanied by spotting.

Foul or bad smell of the vaginal bleeding discharge.

Heavy bleeding with clots.

Nausea or vomiting.

Pain while having intercourse.

Vaginal itching and burning sensation.

Burning sensation while urinating.

Intense lower back pain.

How to Prevent Bleeding After Sex?

The treatment or prevention of the abnormal vaginal bleeding depends on the root cause of the problem. Below are few tips to consider…

If you are suffering from vaginal dryness, proper lubrication can help you prevent rough friction. You can use vaginal moisturizers which are easily absorbed by the vagina. They increase and restore the natural acidity of the vagina. But make sure to avoid products that contain paraben or propylene glycol.

If you are experiencing vaginal dryness due to menopause of removal of ovaries then take estrogen therapy. You can talk to your gynecologist about it. Estrogen therapies include cream, ring (which should be inserted into the vagina), and suppositories. Oral hormone therapy can also be taken.

If the bleeding after sex is due to infections then consult your gynecologist. Depending on the infection, the doctor may suggest treatment.

Eat a healthy diet that include iron, magnesium, protein, and vitamins.

Drink plenty of water to flush out toxin build which can have a major impact on the hormones.

Conclusion:

If you are experiencing vaginal bleeding after sex occasionally then there is nothing to worry about. However, if the flow is heavy, consistent, and abnormal then you should be taking medical help as soon as possible. An early detection of any underlying will be easy to treat successfully.

We hope the information provided in this article was very helpful for you. If you still have further queries then write to us in the comment section below.